Washing-machine



(No Model.)

H. R. SPALDING.

WASHING MACHINE. No. 367,249. Patented July 26,1887.

PETERS. Phalo-Lilhogmphar. wahin mn. D a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

HENRY R. SPALDING, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.367,249, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed September 29, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. SPALDING, a c tlzenof the United States, residing in the clty of Rockford-in the county of lVinnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to aclass of washingmachines known as the steam-washer.

The object of this invention is to produce a more durable and a more efficient machine of its class. To this end I have designed and constructed the machine represented in the accompanying drawings, in connection with which my improvements will be hereinafter more fully described, and in which Figure l is an isometrical representation of a steam-washer embodying my improvements, and in which the cover to the case is omitted and the hinged portion of the cylinder is open. Fig. 2 is a vertical central lengthwise section, and Fig. 3 is a vertical central transverse sect1on 1n which the axial support to'the cylinder 1s entire.

The vessel or outer casing of the steamwasher is produced in two sections, consisting of a reservoir base portion and a cover port1on. The reservoir portion 1, forming the base portion of the case, is of rectangular box form, preferably about twice as long as deep, and may be of any practical Width, or a width about equal to its depth will be found a proportionment well, adapted for domestic purposes. The cover 2 in this instance is a semi decagon in lengthwise section, but may be semicircular or any other known form adapted for the purposes of a cover to the reservoir, but preferably so formed that its meeting edge may enter within the upper edge walls of the reservoir. A cylindrical vessel, 3,with closed ends and of dimensions to enter freely within the casing, is provided with spider armed hubs 4, fixed to the axial centers of its end portions, and furnish supports to a shaft, 5, extending through the axial center of the cylinder. The shaft 5 is fixed in the hub portion of the spiders to cause the cylinder to revolve with the shaft.

Radial division-walls 6, extending from the shaft on independent lines, are connected with the inner surface of the peripheral rim of the cylinder, and form a water-chamber, 7, extend- Serial No. 214,887.

(No model.)

ing from the axial shaft to the peripheral rim provided with a series of openings, 8%, to per-' mi't water contained in the chamber to escape into the cylinder. Theperipheral rim of the. cylinder is provided at proper intervals with openings 9, through which water can enter the cylinder or escape therefrom. This cylinder is produced in two parts, 10 and 11, ofwhich the smaller segment, 11, forms a lid to the larger segment, 10, and is hinge-jointed thereto, and a springclasp, 12, fixed to the lid, engages a stud, 13, projecting from the larger segment, which serves to hold the lid closed in a detachable manner. This cylinder is supported to revolve within the casing on the projecting ends of its axial shaft, supported to revolve in semi-box bearings 14., fixed centrally to the side upper edges of the reservoir portion of the case.

A winch, 15, is fixed to the projecting end of the axial shaft of the cylinder, by which to rotate the cylinder within the case. In use water is placed in the cylinder to rise about to the waterline 16. (Shown in Figs. 2 and With the cylinder in place, the machine is then placed on the stove, range, or otherwise in position to be heated. The clothes, with soap or other washing material,are then put into the cylinder and the segment lid closed over them, and the cover of the case put in place. If the clothes have not previously been soaked or wet, the cylinder is rotated slowly to saturate them, after which it may rest until the water is heated to or nearly to the boiling-point, when the cylinder is rotated to agitate the clothes contained therein and cause the water and the steam generated there from to filter through the clothes. This process is continued until the clothes are washed, after which they are removed from the cylinder and treated in the usual manner.

In the rotation of the cylinder in the reservoir containing water the water and steam will enter the chamber between the radial walls and will be carried toward the center of the cylinder, and, escaping through the open ings formed in the central portions of the radial walls, will filter or be forced by gravity, assisted by centrifugal force and the action of the steam, through the clothes, and in connection with water and steam entering the many openings in the periphery of the cylinder will rapidly cleanse the clothes.

The employment of the shaft extending through the axial center of the cylinder and fixed in its hub-supports serves to give additional strength to the cylinder and adds greatly to the durability and efficiency of the machine.

Ihe radial walls forming the chamber 7,extending from the axial center of the cylinder to the inner face of the rim and connecting with its head ends, serve to carry the clothes in the cylinder with its rotations, and in the oscillatory movements of the cylinder the clothes contained therein will be thrown alternately against opposite sides of the chamber, which in practice adds greatly to its efficiency as a washing-machine.

I claim as my invention-- l. The combination, with a reservoir and a cylinderjournaled therein, of wallsdiverging from a line Within the cylinder toward the peripheral rim of the cylinder and forming therewith a steam and water chamber having openings through its diverging and peripheral walls to the interior of the cylinder and the reservoir, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a steam-generating reservoir and a rotary cylinder journaled therein, a door to the cylinder, and a cover to the reservoir, of walls diverging from the axial shaftsupport of the cylinder to its peripheral rim, said walls and peripheral rim inclosed between the Walls forming a steam and water chamber, having communication with the interior of the cylinder and with the reservoir through openings formed, respect ively, in the diverging and peripheral walls of the chamber, substantially as set forth.

HENRY R. SPALDING.

Witnesses:

A. O. BEH'EL, JACOB BEHEL. 

